Dave Forrest resigning as municipal administrator in Norristown

NORRISTOWN — Municipal Administrator David Forrest submitted his resignation Friday after working in Norristown for the past five years.

In a brief e-mail on Friday morning, Forrest said, “I want to let you know that I have submitted my resignation. I have accepted a manager position in Canandaigua, N.Y. My last day will be Feb. 28.”

The e-mail ended with, “Thank you for your support over the past five years in Norristown. I really appreciate it. Dave.”

Forrest said he had been looking for another job for several months and had gone to job interviews in Maine, Illinois and New York. He was offered the job as city manager in Canandaigua last week for an annual salary of $100,000, he said. Forrest earned $109,000 per year in Norristown.

Forrest said the reason he began job-hunting was that he was “interested in exploring other opportunities.” He will replace City Manager Kay James, who is retiring after working in the city for several years.

Forrest first had a job interview in Canandaigua with a search firm and members of a search committee. The second interview was in early January with the council members.

Forrest told Norristown council members on Tuesday about the resignation. He told the municipal staff at a brief staff meeting on Friday morning.

Forrest said he was proud of several accomplishments since he was hired in May 2007.

“Reorganizing the code enforcement department was something that I feel pretty good about. We have a qualified department head, a clear chain of command, a third-party inspection team with the required certifications and we have people who know what their jobs are,” Forrest said. “That is in contrast to what we had here five years ago.”

“I feel good about launching Arts Hill and working to establish a second theater venue for Theatre Horizon. I feel positive about the Pennrose project, which will have about 100 apartment units and 5,000 square feet of retail space,” Forrest said. “That project is not under way but we are getting close to completing all the financial details and logistics to move it forward. Generally people have appreciated the work I have done here.”

“There are always going to be disagreements but there were no major disagreements about the things that mattered,” Forrest said. “I will work with council to ensure that there will be continuity between the time I leave and a new manager is brought on board.”

“He is full of energy. He meant well for the community. He needs to move on,” Musonye said. “He put a whole lot of energy and time into the job. I’m sad to see him go.”

Joseph Januzelli, the Norristown Code Enforcement Manager, said Forrest, “has been a true friend to the code department and to me. My staff and I will miss him. His enthusiasm was one of the reasons I came here from Conshohocken.”

Forrest’s executive assistant, Sandra Grubb, said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Dave. He is a true professional and a gentleman. I wish him the very best in his job and I will miss him.”

Norristown architect Doug Seiler said, “You will be sorely missed. Your tenure has been a bright spot in Norristown’s history and the town is better off because of your hard work and energy.”

Forrest served as Borough Manager in Lansdowne and as assistant Borough Manager in Pottstown before coming to Norristown.

“I was not happy he is going,” said Norristown Council President Gary Simpson. “I’m happy he is going to a place that gives him a little less work and gives him an opportunity to spend more time with his family.”

Simpson said he was “surprised by the resignation.”

“We are going to have an executive session next Tuesday night,” Simpson said. “We will announce what procedures will be used to find an interim manager. I wish Dave and his family the best. He worked very hard for Norristown and he will be missed.”